Material Detail

The Ice Melting Investigation Project lesson plan by Teresa Madyun is an assignment for 9th and 10th grade algebra students designed to help them discover how linear relationships apply to the real world. Real world skills of observing and recording data and making predictions based on that data are practiced when carrying out the performance tasks. Because of the hands-on nature of the assignment, this lesson plan is well-suited to the kinesthetic learner. In addition, Marzano’s instructional strategy of recognizing similarities and differences is practiced when students chart and compare the results between two melting spheres. This would be a very engaging lesson for students and simulates what scientists do in real life. The lesson plan could be improved by providing a more detailed step-by-step description of the method educators need to follow to carry out this lesson. It would be helpful also if the Merlot page contained an image and description to represent the material. Multimedia use is also incorporated in the lesson. Students enter their data into a spreadsheet, represent it graphically, and then report their findings in a PowerPoint presentation.

This appears to be a fun and engaging assignment that addresses several learning styles. I might try this one day. There are a variety of instructional strategies that should motivate most students to be engaged in the project. It helps correlate math content with the goals of the scientific method. The integration of a variety of technologies is appropriate and motivating. Although UDL principles are not directly stated, the Power Point could address some of them. Working in groups can also benefit those within the group that encounter barriers to understanding. I am curious to the size of the two spheres and how long this project takes. There is a disconnect between the audience stated in the lesson plan and the audience on the MERLOT page. In addition, the MERLOT page has no description of the lesson or searchable keywords.